Department for Transport

*No heading*

lord lester of herne hill: Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the benefits and costs to the UK of membership of the European RailwayAgency.

lord callanan: The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU, including the implications for the continued participation in the European Union Agency for Railways. As part of the exit negotiations the Government will discuss with the EU and member states how best to continue cooperation in the field of rail safety and standards.

*No heading*

lord framlingham: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of uncertainties surrounding thecost of HS2, what plans they have for producing detailed and up-to-date estimates.

lord callanan: We are keeping a tough grip on costs and are determined to deliver HS2 within budget. The Spending Review in 2015 set out a long-term budget of £55.7bn (2015 prices) for delivery of HS2. That budget has not changed. There are currently detailed cost estimates in place for each of the HS2 Phases (1, 2a and 2b). Our latest assessment of the cost estimate for Phase 2 was published on 17th July 2017 as part of the Phase 2 Business Case, which is attached and can be found on the GOV.UK web site:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/629165/high-speed-two-phase-two-financial-case.pdf. The development of these cost estimates will evolve as the scheme design matures. We will continue to develop the programme cost estimate to inform future decision points, such as Phase 1 Main Works Civils Notice to Proceed expected in 2019, and Phase 2b hybrid Bill deposit expected by the end of 2019.



HS2 - Phase 2 - Financial Case
(PDF Document, 412.22 KB)

*No heading*

lord framlingham: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of trains per hour that will run between Birmingham and London Euston once HS2 is completed.

lord callanan: The business case for HS2 assumes that seven trains per hour in each direction will run between central Birmingham stations (Birmingham New Street and the new Curzon Street station) and London Euston. This includes three trains per hour using HS2.

Air Routes: EU Countries

lord mackenzie of culkein: Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of whether there is a legal mechanism by which airlines operating from the UK can fly to territories in the EU (1) if the UK ceases to be a member of the European Aviation Safety Agency, or (2) is no longer party to the European Open Skies programme.

lord callanan: The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU and plans to negotiate the best possible relationship between the UK and the EU in the field of aviation. As part of the exit negotiations, the Government will discuss with the EU and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of aviation safety and standards.

Department for Communities and Local Government

*No heading*

earl attlee: Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken since the Grenfell Tower fire to verify that local authorities are meeting their obligations to plan for, and respond to, disasters.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: Local authorities, as category 1 responders under the Civil Contingency Act 2004, are subject to the full set of civil protection duties, which includes developing appropriate emergency plans based on local risks and needs. They are also required to assess the risk of emergencies occurring and use this to inform contingency planning.Since the Grenfell Tower fire my officials have continued to support local resilience forums and have participated in meetings with key emergency planning stakeholders, as required.

*No heading*

baroness lister of burtersett: Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Buscombe on 5 July (HL Deb, col 885) and in the light of the answer by Lord O'Shaughnessy on 29 June (HL Deb, col 660), how they intend to ensure that no re-housed resident of Grenfell Tower will be worse off if they move into larger accommodation.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: No household will be charged more in rent when they are rehoused permanently into social housing than they were charged previously. even if they move into agreed larger accommodation.The Government is clear that there will be relaxed benefit rules for anyone affected by the Grenfell Tower fire and our staffs are handling people’s claims with sensitivity, understanding and flexibility. As part of this, our recent guidance to Local Authorities is that they should treat these residents as a priority for discretionary housing payments to help with their rent if they are rehoused in a larger property.

*No heading*

lord black of brentwood: Her Majesty's Government what proposals they have to encourage private and social landlords to allow tenants to have pets, in order to avoid the separation of pets from their owners.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: There are properties in both the social and private rented sectors where pets are allowed. In the case of social landlords, it would be set out in the tenancy agreement whether pets are allowed and this is at the discretion of the landlord. Similarly, in the private rented sector, it is a matter for landlords to agree with their tenants as to whether pets are permitted. The government recognises that not all properties may be suitable for tenants with pets but encourages landlords to offer flexibility where possible.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

*No heading*

lord teverson: Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had withthe government of the United States in regard totheir intended withdrawal from the Euratom Treaty; and what subjects were covered during those discussions.

lord prior of brampton: The Department has had several discussions with officials from the United States on civil nuclear cooperation when the UK leaves Euratom, including a future Nuclear Cooperation Agreement with the United States.Our aim is clear: we want to maintain continuity of our mutually successful civil nuclear co-operation with Euratom and international partners.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Universal Credit

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Bahrain following the cancellation of Sheikh Isa Qassim's citizenship.

baroness lister of burtersett: Her Majesty's Government how many claimants of universal credit have had to wait for more than six weeks for the first payment of universal credit; and what is the average waiting time.

baroness lister of burtersett: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the findings by Citizens Advice in its report Delivering Universal Credit, what steps they plan to take to reduce the time taken for thefirst payment of universal credit to be made.

baroness lister of burtersett: Her Majesty's Government how many claimants of universal credit have had to wait for more than six weeks for the first payment of universal credit; and what is the average waiting time.

baroness buscombe: The assessment period and payment structure of Universal Credit creates a fixed period between date of entitlement and the first payment. The policy intention is that claimants receive the first payment 5 weeks after their date of entitlement (6 weeks if waiting days are served). The assessment period runs for a full calendar month from the date of entitlement, and the UC pay date will be 7 calendar days after the end of the assessment period. This mirrors the world of work and allows for a 1 month period in which to gather information about a claimants’ earnings. Advances and budgeting support are available to support claimants during this period. Advances can provide up to 50% of a claimants indicative award straight away. The latest internal data, for week ending 19 June, suggests some 80% of cases were paid in full at the end of the first assessment period. For the 20% of cases who were not paid in full we estimate around a third have not signed up to their claimant commitment so cannot be paid until they have. The other two thirds have an outstanding verification issue, such as providing bank statements, evidence of childcare costs, or proof of rent. Many of these claimants receive a part-payment where elements of the claim have been verified.

*No heading*

lord hoyle: Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Saudi Arabia about the bombing of civilians in Yeman; and what response they received.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We regularly raise the importance of compliance with International Humanitarian Law with the Saudi Arabian Government. Saudi Arabia has publicly stated that it is investigating reports of alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law through the Coalition’s Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT), and that lessons will be acted upon.

*No heading*

lord patten: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of Brexit, what is their assessment of the need to maintain the double lock to protect the sovereignty of Gibraltar; and what measures they consider necessary to protect and enhance Gibraltar's trading relationship with the UK.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Our position on Gibraltar's sovereignty is clear. It has not and will not change as a result of the UK's exit from the EU. We stand by our sovereignty assurances to Gibraltar never to enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another State against their wishes. Furthermore the UK has given an assurance that it will not enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.As the Foreign Secretary has said, we are "absolutely bound to protect the economic interests of the people of Gibraltar". We are clear that Gibraltar is covered by our exit negotiations and we have committed to fully involve them as we prepare for the process of leaving the EU. We continue to work closely with the Government of Gibraltar to understand their needs and ensure their priorities are taken properly into account, including through the recent HMG-Gibraltar Exit Ministerial meeting (the JMC(GEN)) on 17 July.

*No heading*

lord scriven: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 27 June (HL 186), whether they intend to discuss the reported use of plastic bullets and the breaking up of the Gay Pride march in Istanbul with the government of Turkey.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We regularly discuss freedom of expression and assembly with the Turkish Government and have made clear our support to the LGBTI community in Turkey, including through our partnering of civil society organisations representing LGBTI issues. We will continue to highlight the importance of these issues in our bilateral contacts.

*No heading*

the lord bishop of southwark: Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking in Iraq and Syria to discharge the responsibility set out by Mark Field MP, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on 4 July (HC Deb Col. 21WH) for "protecting and upholding the rights of Christian communities across the globe."

lord ahmad of wimbledon: In Syria we are providing a range of support, including to the moderate opposition, to help save lives, bolster civil society, counter extremism, promote human rights and accountability, and lay the foundations for a more peaceful future. To date, this amounts to over £120 million, with a further £30 million to bolster regional stability.In Iraq we are promoting the right to freedom of religion or belief for all religious communities. We urge the Government of Iraq at senior levels to uphold the rights of all minorities. In addition, we support projects on community dialogue with civil society and faith groups. For example, through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Magna Carta Fund, we have contributed £163,000 to support a project across several countries in the Middle East, including Iraq, to promote legal and social protection for freedom of religion or belief. This project aims to prevent intolerance and violence towards religious communities by inspiring leaders in Iraqi society to defend freedom of religion or belief.

*No heading*

the lord bishop of southwark: Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Mark Field MP, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on 4 July (HC Deb. Cols 21–23WH) concerning the "special responsibility for protecting and upholding the rights of Christian communities across the globe" and thering-fencing of humanitarian assisstancetohelp protect displaced minorities,whether they will institute a programme for the secure restoration of Christian communities and other minorities in Iraq.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Iraqi Christians have deep and ancient ties to the region. It is a tragedy that so many have been forced to flee their homes and been subjected to such appalling human rights abuses. We want to see Christians and other minorities continuing to live, worship and prosper in Iraq and across the Middle East.To this end, we are providing £209.5 million in humanitarian aid to all those who have been affected by conflict in Iraq. The funding provides clean water, sanitation, essential medicines and other life-saving assistance. We are also providing over £15 million towards UN efforts to stabilise areas liberated from Daesh. In addition, through the UK's Conflict, Security and Stability Fund we are supporting community cohesion, encouraging reconciliation and promoting acceptance and tolerance between communities. We also continue to encourage political and religious leaders in Iraq to speak out publicly to condemn violence and we are working to build international consensus on upholding freedom of religion or belief.UK funded aid is provided on the basis of need to ensure civilians are not discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion, or ethnicity.Ultimately, the best way of safeguarding Christian and other minority communities in Iraq is to establish lasting peace. That means defeating Daesh and helping the Government of Iraq to deliver political reform and reconciliation.

Northern Ireland Office

Public Expenditure: Northern Ireland

lord empey: Her Majesty's Government what powers they have to direct Northern Ireland departments on the allocation of funds, in the absence of a functioning Northern Ireland Executive.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: In the absence of a functioning Executive, it is for NI civil servants to allocate cash under s59 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. This situation has led to understandable concern and uncertainty among businesses and those relying on public services alike. Since April the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has therefore worked closely with the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS), in conjunction with the NICS Board, to keep under review how to provide ongoing assurance around the Budget in the absence of an Executive. As a result the Secretary of State has made two Written Statements on NI finances, on 24 April and 19 July. These have set out indicative Budget positions and departmental allocations. These seek to enable Permanent Secretaries to plan and prepare to take more detailed decisions on cash allocations. These allocations do not reflect input or decisions from the UK Government nor do they constrain the future ability of an incoming Executive to adjust its priorities. These statements did not replace the ultimate need for a formal Budget for Northern Ireland. The exercise of s59 powers cannot be sustained indefinitely. Accordingly, the Secretary of State’s statement on 19 July reaffirmed that the UK Government remains prepared to take forward legislation at Westminster to give authority for the expenditure of Northern Ireland departments should an Executive not be restored in the autumn. It should be for a new Executive to make swift decisions on its Budget to make use of the spending power available to it, and it remains our overriding priority to see a new Executive in place as soon as possible.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Department for International Development

*No heading*

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the freedom of information response issued by the Department for International Development (DfID) on 13 March which stated that “whoever needs our help the most gets it first”, what assessment they have made of the needs of religious minorities in Northern Iraq and Syria; whether those minorities fall within the definition of humanitarian assistance applied by UN agencies; what assessment they have made of claims by NGOs that religious identity is the basis for human rights abuses including abduction and murder; what data DfID collect about the ethnic and religious diversity of those receiving its aid in those regions; and if such data is not collected, why not.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the freedom of information response issued by the Department for International Development (DfID) on 13 March which stated that “whoever needs our help the most gets it first”, what assessment they have made of the needs of religious minorities in Northern Iraq and Syria; whether those minorities fall within the definition of humanitarian assistance applied by UN agencies; what assessment they have made of claims by NGOs that religious identity is the basis for human rights abuses including abduction and murder; what data DfID collect about the ethnic and religious diversity of those receiving its aid in those regions; and if such data is not collected, why not.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which UN agencies have operated impartially and neutrally in responding to the needs of religious minorities facing persecution and genocide in Northern Iraq and Syria; and on what evidence they base that assessment.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the freedom of information response issued by the Department for International Development (DfID) on 13 March which stated that “the vast majority of Syrian refugees across the Middle East, as well as internally displaced persons in Iraq and Syria, live in host communities rather than in camps” and that DfID is active in providing them with support, what funds have been made available to Yazidis and Christians living outside the camps; how much will be provided for (1) urgent humanitarian assistance, and (2) the rebuilding of those communities; and how much DfID funding is provided through the Bishops Emergency Committee.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government (1) what contact they have had with, and (2) what support they intend to provide to, the Nineveh Reconstruction Committee, regarding (a) the rebuilding of 13,000 homes on the Nineveh Plains, and (b) the need to ensure that those Christians internally displaced from the Plains are provided with adequate food supplies.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which UN agencies have operated impartially and neutrally in responding to the needs of religious minorities facing persecution and genocide in Northern Iraq and Syria; and on what evidence they base that assessment.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the freedom of information response issued by the Department for International Development (DfID) on 13 March which stated that “the vast majority of Syrian refugees across the Middle East, as well as internally displaced persons in Iraq and Syria, live in host communities rather than in camps” and that DfID is active in providing them with support, what funds have been made available to Yazidis and Christians living outside the camps; how much will be provided for (1) urgent humanitarian assistance, and (2) the rebuilding of those communities; and how much DfID funding is provided through the Bishops Emergency Committee.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government (1) what contact they have had with, and (2) what support they intend to provide to, the Nineveh Reconstruction Committee, regarding (a) the rebuilding of 13,000 homes on the Nineveh Plains, and (b) the need to ensure that those Christians internally displaced from the Plains are provided with adequate food supplies.

lord bates: The UK Government recognises the specific risks such as abduction and murder faced by religious minorities in Iraq and Syria, including those who have suffered so horrifically at the hands of Daesh, and is deeply concerned by reports of human rights abuses motivated by religious or ethnic identity.All people in need, from any community, irrespective of religious affiliation, are eligible for humanitarian assistance. DFID’s humanitarian implementing partners, including the UN, consider a wide range of issues when assessing an individual’s vulnerability such as the impact of physical or mental disabilities, income, age, missing family members, and whether individuals are already receiving assistance from other sources.The organisations through which we channel our support do not identify or record beneficiaries by their religion. The reason for this is because there is a risk that collecting information about the ethnicity or religion of people receiving aid could be obtained by others, including extremist groups, and used to persecute them.We do not therefore hold information on how much UK-funded support is channelled to Yezidis and Christians either inside or outside camps. This year the UK will provide £40 million for urgent humanitarian assistance in Iraq and £4 million for the UN’s Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilisation (FFIS) to help rebuild communities affected by Daesh, including for minority communities in newly liberated areas in Iraq. The UK is also providing £500 million to support people, including refugees and internally displaced Syrians, affected by the Syria crisis in 2017. DFID does not fund the Bishops Emergency Committee.The Nineveh Reconstruction Committee comprised of Church representatives has not contacted the UK Government or submitted a proposal for UK support for the construction of homes on the Nineveh Plains.The UK is funding the UN’s Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilisation (FFIS), which is supporting 152 projects in mainly Christian communities in the Ninewa Plains and 70 projects in Yezidi communities in Sinjar, Rabia and Sinuni.UN agencies are obliged to operate by the humanitarian principles of neutrality and impartiality which aim to ensure that no one is excluded or discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, or religion; and to also ensure that the specific risks facing minorities are addressed and that assistance reaches those who need it most. DFID considers reports from a wide range of sources, including field visits by UK officials where these are possible, to assess the effectiveness of UN operations and their compliance with humanitarian principles. The UN carries out vital work in both Syria and Iraq, and UN staff frequently risk their lives to deliver assistance to people in need, including to areas where Daesh or the Assad regime seek to prevent aid being delivered.

South Sudan: Children

baroness kinnock of holyhead: Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the number of (1) children in South Sudan who are malnourished,and (2)South Sudanese children whoare crossing into Uganda; and what steps have been taken to address the plight of children in South Sudan affected by the ongoing armed conflict.

lord bates: The latest estimate from the UN is that there are 1.1 million acutely malnourished children in South Sudan. There are 586,600 children under 18 who have fled to Uganda and many of these will have been malnourished when they arrived. The UK is leading the international response to the crisis in South Sudan, and this year will feed 500,000 people and, with other donors, provide lifesaving nutritional support for 100,000 children and mothers, and over 1.8 million health consultations to children under five.

Department for Education

Refugees: Housing

lord ouseley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to take steps to suspend 11-plus examinations for entry to grammar schools in Buckinghamshire until there is clarity about the reasons for the findings by Local, Equal, Excellent that children of Pakistani and Caribbean origins are being disproportionately excluded from grammar schools in that area.

lord roberts of llandudno: Her Majesty's Government what financial assistance they have given to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to support them in the settlement of refugees.

lord roberts of llandudno: Her Majesty's Government what financial assistance they have given to local authoritiesfor the provision ofaccommodationfor refugees; and how much has been given to each such local authority.

lord roberts of llandudno: Her Majesty's Government what financial assistance they have given to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to support them in the settlement of refugees.

baroness williams of trafford: The government provides funding to local authorities participating in the VPRS. The first 12 months of a refugee's resettlement costs are funded by central government using the Official Development Assistance budget. The year 1 funding is a per person tariff of £8,520. The Government has committed £129m to assist with local authority costs over years 2-5 of the scheme. This will be allocated on a tariff basis over four years. Local authorities will receive £12,000 per person overall for years 2-5; tapering from £5,000 in year 2, to £3,700 in year 3, to £2,300k in year 4 and £1,000k in year 5. There will also be an exceptional cases fund to assist the most vulnerable refugees. Local authorities participating in both Resettlement Programmes are responsible for securing accommodation for families prior to their arrival. Resettled families are usually reliant on benefits to meet their accommodation and other living costs.

*No heading*

lord lester of herne hill: Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the benefits and costs to the UK of membership of the European Institute for Gender Equality.

lord nash: The European Institute of Gender Equality (EIGE) is an autonomous body of the European Union, which was established to contribute to and strengthen the promotion of gender equality. EIGE products, which include comparable data and research, have been utilised by the Government to inform evidence-based policy-making. However, there are a number of bodies, including the Council of Europe and OECD that produce similar products.

*No heading*

lord mccoll of dulwich: Her Majesty's Government how many children referred to the National Referral Mechanism for victims of modern slavery in each year since 2010 were placed under a care order according to section 31 of the Children Act 1989; and what were the nationalities of those children.

lord nash: The department does not collect the information requested.

*No heading*

baroness grender: Her Majesty's Government what proportion of children who are eligible to receive 30 hours of free childcare are currently registered to begin receivingthat childcare from September.

lord nash: The number of eligible children fluctuates by term and by parental employment, and we cannot estimate with precision how many children are eligible at any specific time.As of 18 July, successful parent applications for 30 hours have generated 145,463 valid 30 hours eligibility codes through the service. The demand for the service continues to grow daily with over 2,000 30 hours codes generated per day.

*No heading*

baroness healy of primrose hill: Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that schools (1) are aware of, and (2) adhere to, the provisions of the Children and Families Act 2014 which places a duty of care on schools to ensure that children with health needs are safe and not excluded during the time they spend in school and on school activities.

lord nash: We know how important it is that children with medical conditions are supported to enjoy a full education, including having full access to school activities. That is why we introduced the provisions in the Children and Families Act 2014 to require governing bodies to make arrangements to support pupils with medical conditions, and have provided statutory guidance outlining schools’ responsibilities in this area.We continue to work with Ofsted and other organisations, such as the Health Conditions in Schools Alliance, to help raise awareness of the duty and to ensure that schools are meeting their responsibilities.

*No heading*

the earl of listowel: Her Majesty's Government what percentage of school children aged 14 to 16 went on an exchange trip from England to (1) Germany, and (2) France, in 2014;and whether they have made any comparative estimate of the number of such exchange trips made by French school children to Germany in that year.

lord nash: The Government does not hold this information. It is for schools to decide whether they engage in school exchange trips and the Department does not collect data on the number of participants in such trips.

*No heading*

lord maginnis of drumglass: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the decision by Transport for London to stop using the term “ladies and gentlemen” for public announcements, whether they have issued guidance to local authorities and other public bodies on appropriate forms of address for members of the public; if so, what form that guidance takes and whether it has been, or will be, published; whether any such guidance specifically refers to the use of the term “ladies and gentlemen”; and if so, whether public bodies are encouraged to avoid the use of that term.

lord nash: It important that our public services reflect the language used by everyone.The Government has issued no guidance for local authorities or other public bodies on this issue but we would encourage everyone to think about how they can tailor services to be as inclusive as possible.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Middle East: Overseas Aid

baroness hollins: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 16 June (HL576), whether the trial of Mazher Mahmood is among those cases she refers to as connected to the subject of the Leveson Inquiry and which must conclude before they will consider Part 2 of the Leveson Inquiry, and which other criminal proceedings are also in that category.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which UN agencies have operated impartially and neutrally in responding to the needs of religious minorities facing persecution and genocide in Northern Iraq and Syria; and on what evidence they base that assessment.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the freedom of information response issued by the Department for International Development (DfID) on 13 March which stated that “the vast majority of Syrian refugees across the Middle East, as well as internally displaced persons in Iraq and Syria, live in host communities rather than in camps” and that DfID is active in providing them with support, what funds have been made available to Yazidis and Christians living outside the camps; how much will be provided for (1) urgent humanitarian assistance, and (2) the rebuilding of those communities; and how much DfID funding is provided through the Bishops Emergency Committee.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government (1) what contact they have had with, and (2) what support they intend to provide to, the Nineveh Reconstruction Committee, regarding (a) the rebuilding of 13,000 homes on the Nineveh Plains, and (b) the need to ensure that those Christians internally displaced from the Plains are provided with adequate food supplies.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the freedom of information response issued by the Department for International Development (DfID) on 13 March which stated that “whoever needs our help the most gets it first”, what assessment they have made of the needs of religious minorities in Northern Iraq and Syria; whether those minorities fall within the definition of humanitarian assistance applied by UN agencies; what assessment they have made of claims by NGOs that religious identity is the basis for human rights abuses including abduction and murder; what data DfID collect about the ethnic and religious diversity of those receiving its aid in those regions; and if such data is not collected, why not.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which UN agencies have operated impartially and neutrally in responding to the needs of religious minorities facing persecution and genocide in Northern Iraq and Syria; and on what evidence they base that assessment.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the freedom of information response issued by the Department for International Development (DfID) on 13 March which stated that “the vast majority of Syrian refugees across the Middle East, as well as internally displaced persons in Iraq and Syria, live in host communities rather than in camps” and that DfID is active in providing them with support, what funds have been made available to Yazidis and Christians living outside the camps; how much will be provided for (1) urgent humanitarian assistance, and (2) the rebuilding of those communities; and how much DfID funding is provided through the Bishops Emergency Committee.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government (1) what contact they have had with, and (2) what support they intend to provide to, the Nineveh Reconstruction Committee, regarding (a) the rebuilding of 13,000 homes on the Nineveh Plains, and (b) the need to ensure that those Christians internally displaced from the Plains are provided with adequate food supplies.

lord bates: The UK Government recognises the specific risks such as abduction and murder faced by religious minorities in Iraq and Syria, including those who have suffered so horrifically at the hands of Daesh, and is deeply concerned by reports of human rights abuses motivated by religious or ethnic identity.All people in need, from any community, irrespective of religious affiliation, are eligible for humanitarian assistance. DFID’s humanitarian implementing partners, including the UN, consider a wide range of issues when assessing an individual’s vulnerability such as the impact of physical or mental disabilities, income, age, missing family members, and whether individuals are already receiving assistance from other sources.The organisations through which we channel our support do not identify or record beneficiaries by their religion. The reason for this is because there is a risk that collecting information about the ethnicity or religion of people receiving aid could be obtained by others, including extremist groups, and used to persecute them.We do not therefore hold information on how much UK-funded support is channelled to Yezidis and Christians either inside or outside camps. This year the UK will provide £40 million for urgent humanitarian assistance in Iraq and £4 million for the UN’s Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilisation (FFIS) to help rebuild communities affected by Daesh, including for minority communities in newly liberated areas in Iraq. The UK is also providing £500 million to support people, including refugees and internally displaced Syrians, affected by the Syria crisis in 2017. DFID does not fund the Bishops Emergency Committee.The Nineveh Reconstruction Committee comprised of Church representatives has not contacted the UK Government or submitted a proposal for UK support for the construction of homes on the Nineveh Plains.The UK is funding the UN’s Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilisation (FFIS), which is supporting 152 projects in mainly Christian communities in the Ninewa Plains and 70 projects in Yezidi communities in Sinjar, Rabia and Sinuni.UN agencies are obliged to operate by the humanitarian principles of neutrality and impartiality which aim to ensure that no one is excluded or discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, or religion; and to also ensure that the specific risks facing minorities are addressed and that assistance reaches those who need it most. DFID considers reports from a wide range of sources, including field visits by UK officials where these are possible, to assess the effectiveness of UN operations and their compliance with humanitarian principles. The UN carries out vital work in both Syria and Iraq, and UN staff frequently risk their lives to deliver assistance to people in need, including to areas where Daesh or the Assad regime seek to prevent aid being delivered.

Department for Work and Pensions

*No heading*

lord teverson: Her Majesty's Government whether they will continue to increase annually the state pensions of UK citizens living in EU member states once the UK has withdrawn from the EU.

baroness buscombe: In its publication: The United Kingdom’s Exit from the European Union: Safeguarding the Position of EU Citizens Living in the UK and UK Nationals Living in the EU of 26 June 2017, the Government has set out its offer, at paragraph 44, to continue to export and uprate the UK State Pension within the EU, subject to reciprocity. The Government wishes to reach a reciprocal agreement as quickly as possible to provide as much certainty as possible to the three million EU citizens in the UK and around one million UK nationals in Europe and for their lives to continue broadly as now.

*No heading*

lord scriven: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to ensure that the ruling by the Supreme Court on O'Brien (Appellant) v Ministry of Justice (Respondent) that same-sex couples should haveequal pensions rights and entitlements as thosein opposite-sex marriages will remain law post-Brexit, given that the ruling was based on EU law.

baroness buscombe: The Government has no plans to amend pension rights for same sex couples as a result of the UK leaving the European Union. The Government is committed to same sex marriage and is proud that legislation was introduced to ensure that pensions are built up equally for all legal partnerships. Regarding the recent Supreme Court ruling in the case of Walker v Innospec Ltd, the Government of course respects the decision of the Supreme Court. The Government are reviewing the implication of the judgement in detail and will respond appropriately in due course. The Supreme Court has passed the case of O’Brien v Ministry of Justice to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

*No heading*

baroness lister of burtersett: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the findings by Citizens Advice in its report Delivering Universal Credit, what steps they plan to take to reduce the time taken for thefirst payment of universal credit to be made.

baroness lister of burtersett: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the findings by Citizens Advice in its report Delivering Universal Credit, what steps they plan to take to reduce the time taken for thefirst payment of universal credit to be made.

baroness lister of burtersett: Her Majesty's Government how many claimants of universal credit have had to wait for more than six weeks for the first payment of universal credit; and what is the average waiting time.

baroness lister of burtersett: Her Majesty's Government how many claimants of universal credit have had to wait for more than six weeks for the first payment of universal credit; and what is the average waiting time.

baroness buscombe: The assessment period and payment structure of Universal Credit creates a fixed period between date of entitlement and the first payment. The policy intention is that claimants receive the first payment 5 weeks after their date of entitlement (6 weeks if waiting days are served). The assessment period runs for a full calendar month from the date of entitlement, and the UC pay date will be 7 calendar days after the end of the assessment period. This mirrors the world of work and allows for a 1 month period in which to gather information about a claimants’ earnings. Advances and budgeting support are available to support claimants during this period. Advances can provide up to 50% of a claimants indicative award straight away. The latest internal data, for week ending 19 June, suggests some 80% of cases were paid in full at the end of the first assessment period. For the 20% of cases who were not paid in full we estimate around a third have not signed up to their claimant commitment so cannot be paid until they have. The other two thirds have an outstanding verification issue, such as providing bank statements, evidence of childcare costs, or proof of rent. Many of these claimants receive a part-payment where elements of the claim have been verified.

*No heading*

baroness lister of burtersett: Her Majesty's Government how many advance payments of universal credit have been made following a claim for universal credit since its introduction; and what proportion of all claims that number represents.

baroness buscombe: We are planning to publish data on the Universal Credit Advances in due course.

*No heading*

lord bird: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the lessons to be learned from the reports of the Scottish Government's Independent Advisor on Poverty and Inequality in the light of persistent poverty levels in the United Kingdom.

baroness buscombe: The Independent Advisor on Poverty and Inequality was appointed in 2015 to offer advice to the Scottish Government on the action it could take to tackle poverty in Scotland. Nevertheless, the UK Government has taken note of the Advisor’s two publications: Shifting the Curve (and its most recent progress report) and The Life Chances of Young People. The UK Government remains committed to tackling the root causes of child poverty and disadvantage, and has set out a framework for continued action in Improving Lives: Helping Workless Families, published on 4 April.

Ministry of Defence

*No heading*

lord campbell of pittenweem: Her Majesty's Government what is the current strength of each battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

earl howe: The strength of each battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland as at 1 May 2017 is shown below. There are 500 personnel of the Royal Regiment of Scotland who are not currently on Regimental Duty within it and therefore not included. BattalionTotal1 SCOTS3902 SCOTS5003 SCOTS5404 SCOTS6305 SCOTS Balaklava Company906 SCOTS3907 SCOTS450 Caveats: Figures are for Trade Trained Regular Personnel for the Regular batallions (1 SCOTS-5 SCOTS). 6 SCOTS and 7 SCOTS are Army Reserve batallions and include both Trained and Untrained Future Reserve 2020 personnel. Figures include all Arms/Services attached to the battalions. Figures have been rounded to 10; numbers ending in “5” have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.

*No heading*

lord campbell of pittenweem: Her Majesty's Government what is the current status of the programme for the purchase and deployment of the F-35 jet fighter plane.

earl howe: We have taken delivery of 11 F-35B aircraft and expect to have 14 by the end of 2017. The UK programme remains on track, and within time and cost approvals.

*No heading*

lord campbell of pittenweem: Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the individual cost of the remaining F-35 fighter jets which they intend to acquire.

earl howe: The cost of an F-35 aircraft is published when the Joint Programme Office (JPO) lets a contract. The cost of aircraft to be procured in future contracts is still to be negotiated. I am witholding information relating to cost estimates as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.

Navy: Recruitment

lord touhig: Her Majesty's Government what strategy is in place to meet recruitment and retention challenges faced by the Royal Navy.

earl howe: The Naval Service utilises a wide range of mechanisms to aid the recruitment and retention of personnel. For recruitment these include targeted marketing, specific recruitment events and staged remunerative awards to attract recruits in specialist areas. A number of initiatives have also been developed in order to retain experienced personnel, such as the use of targeted retention incentives and career extensions.

Home Office

*No heading*

lord mendelsohn: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 5 July (HL 50), what criteria fire and rescue authoritiesuse to determine whether fire safety precautions are "adequate" and "appropriate" for the management of fire hazards in houses or flats offering accomodation to paying guests, such as throughAirbnb.

lord mendelsohn: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 5 July (HL 50), what criteria fire and rescue authoritiesuse to determine whether fire safety precautions are "adequate" and "appropriate" for the management of fire hazards in houses or flats offering accomodation to paying guests, such as throughAirbnb.

lord mendelsohn: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 5 July (HL 50), what assessement they have made of the application and enforcement of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in relations to houses or flats provided as short–term accommodation to paying guests through platforms such as Airbnb; whether they have any plans to review or update theOrder; and, if so, what is their planned timescale for review.

lord mendelsohn: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 5 July (HL 50), what skills or accreditation must be held by the person responsible for fire risk assessments in houses or flats offering short–term accommodation to paying guests through platforms such as Airbnb; and what fire safety guidance or training in available for such responsible persons.

lord mendelsohn: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 5 July (HL 50), what assessement they have made of the application and enforcement of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in relations to houses or flats provided as short–term accommodation to paying guests through platforms such as Airbnb; whether they have any plans to review or update theOrder; and, if so, what is their planned timescale for review.

lord mendelsohn: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 5 July (HL 50), what skills or accreditation must be held by the person responsible for fire risk assessments in houses or flats offering short–term accommodation to paying guests through platforms such as Airbnb; and what fire safety guidance or training in available for such responsible persons.

baroness williams of trafford: It is the responsibility of each fire and rescue authority to manage its prevention, protection and operational resources to address effectively risks within their communities. This includes determining which premises to audit to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Fire Safety Order. When carrying out an audit, including for short-term accommodation let through Airbnb or similar platforms, it is for the individual fire and rescue authority to determine how they assess whether the fire risk assessment carried out by the responsible person and the fire precautions in place are adequate and appropriate for a particular premises. No two premises are the same. What may represent a proportionate approach to improved fire safety management in one building, will not necessarily apply in another.The level of competency required for individual premises will vary according to their nature and complexity.The Government issued guidance to assist enforcing authorities in their enforcement responsibilities under the Fire Safety Order, which is available here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-reform-fire-safety-order-2005-guidance-note-enforcement. In addition, the Chief Fire Officers Association, now the National Fire Chiefs Council, produced a standardised audit form to ensure consistency of audits.The person responsible for complying with the Fire Safety Order (usually the owner, employer, landlord or managing agent) may decide that they are competent to carry out the risk assessment themselves or they may choose to appoint a competent person to undertake the risk assessment on their behalf. A decision on this may be made in conjunction with their insurers.The requirements for a competent person are set out in the Fire Safety Order. A person is to be regarded as competent for the purposes of making a fire risk assessment if they have sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to enable them properly to assist in undertaking the preventative and protective measures. To help those responsible for ensuring that the risk from fire in their premises has been accurately assessed, the fire sector has produced guidance on how to choose a competent fire risk assessor. This is available on www.cfoa.org.uk/19532. In addition, fire safety risk assessment guidance produced by the Government and by the Local Government Association also provides advice and guidance to those responsible for fire safety compliance to help them to accurately assess the risks from fire and implement adequate and appropriate fire safety measures. This is available here: https://www.gov.uk/workplace-fire-safety-your-responsibilities/fire-risk-assessments. The Government will consider the ongoing suitability of the Fire Safety Order as part of the wider work underway following the horrific fire at Grenfell Tower.



Regulatory Reform Order Guidance 
(PDF Document, 230.86 KB)

*No heading*

lord roberts of llandudno: Her Majesty's Government what financial assistance they have given to local authoritiesfor the provision ofaccommodationfor refugees; and how much has been given to each such local authority.

lord roberts of llandudno: Her Majesty's Government what financial assistance they have given to local authoritiesfor the provision ofaccommodationfor refugees; and how much has been given to each such local authority.

lord roberts of llandudno: Her Majesty's Government what financial assistance they have given to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to support them in the settlement of refugees.

lord roberts of llandudno: Her Majesty's Government what financial assistance they have given to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to support them in the settlement of refugees.

baroness williams of trafford: The government provides funding to local authorities participating in the VPRS. The first 12 months of a refugee's resettlement costs are funded by central government using the Official Development Assistance budget. The year 1 funding is a per person tariff of £8,520. The Government has committed £129m to assist with local authority costs over years 2-5 of the scheme. This will be allocated on a tariff basis over four years. Local authorities will receive £12,000 per person overall for years 2-5; tapering from £5,000 in year 2, to £3,700 in year 3, to £2,300k in year 4 and £1,000k in year 5. There will also be an exceptional cases fund to assist the most vulnerable refugees. Local authorities participating in both Resettlement Programmes are responsible for securing accommodation for families prior to their arrival. Resettled families are usually reliant on benefits to meet their accommodation and other living costs.

*No heading*

lord roberts of llandudno: Her Majesty's Government what financial or other assistance they havegiven to cultural organisations to support their activities aiming to encourage the successful integration of refugees.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government provides funding for a range of services that can be accessed by refugees as part of their successful integration. Language skills and employment skills are key, and the ability to speak English is a key enabler to successful integration. On this basis the Government provides funding for and supports English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) as part of its wider strategy to improve adult literacy in England. ESOL funding is not ring-fenced and comes out of a provider’s Adult Education Budget (AEB). Colleges and training providers have the freedom and flexibility to determine how they use their AEB to meet the needs of their communities. There is no direct funding of cultural bodies for integration purposes although refugees are encouraged to participate in existing social and community groups.

*No heading*

lord roberts of llandudno: Her Majesty's Government how many asylum seekers are currently in custodyawaiting final decisions on their settlement applications.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office publishes figures on the number of asylum claims and decisions made as part of its Immigration Statistics release. The latest version can be found at Immigration statistics, January to March 2017: data tables - GOV.UK and in the attached table.The table below shows the total number of claims and decisions made in each of the last two years. YearNumber of ClaimsDecisions Made201532,73328,622201630,60324,984   



Table - HL700
(Word Document, 15.64 KB)

*No heading*

viscount waverley: Her Majesty's Government under what circumstances a British citizen resident in the UK may seek leave for elderly dependants to enter the UK; and whether, following Brexit, the same rules will apply to EU citizens who have been granted permanent residency status.

baroness williams of trafford: In ‘The United Kingdom’s Exit from the European Union: Safeguarding the Position of EU Citizens Living in the UK and UK Nationals Living in the EU’ (Cm 9464), published on 26 June 2017, we indicated in paragraph 30 that, in respect of EU citizens who arrived here before the specified date, their family members who come to the UK after we leave the EU will be subject to the same rules that apply to non-EU nationals joining British citizens, or alternatively to the post-exit arrangements for EU citizens who arrive after the specified date. The current Immigration Rules for adult dependent relatives of British citizens are contained in Appendix FM: family members.

Wales Office

*No heading*

lord lansley: Her Majesty's Government what they communicated to the Welsh Government about the implications for capital provision or borrowing capacity consequent upon the possibility of government financial guarantees being provided by the Welsh Government to the Heads of the Valley Development Company Circuit of Wales project.

lord duncan of springbank: HMT officials provided informal advice to the Welsh Government on the likely factors that would be considered by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for the classification of financial guarantees for the Heads of the Valley Development Company Circuit of Wales projects. It is for the Welsh Government to manage the implications for capital provision or borrowing capacity on any ONS classification of financial guarantees.

*No heading*

lord lansley: Her Majesty's Government whether they consider that the government financial guarantees sought by the Heads of Valleys Development Company for the Circuit of Wales project would mean that the expenditure on the project would be regarded as public sector capital expenditure.

lord duncan of springbank: The classification of public sector capital expenditure is a matter for the independent Office for National Statistics (ONS).

*No heading*

lord lansley: Her Majesty's Government whether, and if so when, the Welsh Government asked HM Treasury and the National Infrastructure Commission for their view or advice concerning the public sector accountancy treatment of government financial guarantees to the Circuit of Wales project.

lord duncan of springbank: HMT have regular discussions with the Welsh Government on a range of subjects. Any decisions on the classification of government financial guarantees to the Circuit of Wales project are for the Office for National Statistics.

*No heading*

lord wigley: Her Majesty's Government on what date the Welsh Government was given a draft copy of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill; and on what date they received written comments from the Welsh Government on the proposed contents of that Bill.

lord duncan of springbank: The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill was shared with officials in the Welsh Government and the other devolved administrations on 30 June. Since then, Government officials have continued discussions on the Bill with their colleagues in the Welsh Government. The Government expects those discussions to intensify over the coming weeks and months as we work through the legislative preparations for our exit from the EU.

HM Treasury

Holiday Accommodation: Fire Prevention

lord hodgson of astley abbotts: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what regulatory impact assessment they have conducted in relation to the implementation of the Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information in Tax Matters via the OECD Common Reporting Standard, and what were the conclusions of that assessment with regard to its effect on charities and their grant recipients.

lord mendelsohn: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 5 July (HL 50), what assessement they have made of the application and enforcement of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in relations to houses or flats provided as short–term accommodation to paying guests through platforms such as Airbnb; whether they have any plans to review or update theOrder; and, if so, what is their planned timescale for review.

lord mendelsohn: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 5 July (HL 50), what skills or accreditation must be held by the person responsible for fire risk assessments in houses or flats offering short–term accommodation to paying guests through platforms such as Airbnb; and what fire safety guidance or training in available for such responsible persons.

lord mendelsohn: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 5 July (HL 50), what criteria fire and rescue authoritiesuse to determine whether fire safety precautions are "adequate" and "appropriate" for the management of fire hazards in houses or flats offering accomodation to paying guests, such as throughAirbnb.

lord mendelsohn: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 5 July (HL 50), what assessement they have made of the application and enforcement of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in relations to houses or flats provided as short–term accommodation to paying guests through platforms such as Airbnb; whether they have any plans to review or update theOrder; and, if so, what is their planned timescale for review.

lord mendelsohn: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 5 July (HL 50), what skills or accreditation must be held by the person responsible for fire risk assessments in houses or flats offering short–term accommodation to paying guests through platforms such as Airbnb; and what fire safety guidance or training in available for such responsible persons.

baroness williams of trafford: It is the responsibility of each fire and rescue authority to manage its prevention, protection and operational resources to address effectively risks within their communities. This includes determining which premises to audit to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Fire Safety Order. When carrying out an audit, including for short-term accommodation let through Airbnb or similar platforms, it is for the individual fire and rescue authority to determine how they assess whether the fire risk assessment carried out by the responsible person and the fire precautions in place are adequate and appropriate for a particular premises. No two premises are the same. What may represent a proportionate approach to improved fire safety management in one building, will not necessarily apply in another.The level of competency required for individual premises will vary according to their nature and complexity.The Government issued guidance to assist enforcing authorities in their enforcement responsibilities under the Fire Safety Order, which is available here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-reform-fire-safety-order-2005-guidance-note-enforcement. In addition, the Chief Fire Officers Association, now the National Fire Chiefs Council, produced a standardised audit form to ensure consistency of audits.The person responsible for complying with the Fire Safety Order (usually the owner, employer, landlord or managing agent) may decide that they are competent to carry out the risk assessment themselves or they may choose to appoint a competent person to undertake the risk assessment on their behalf. A decision on this may be made in conjunction with their insurers.The requirements for a competent person are set out in the Fire Safety Order. A person is to be regarded as competent for the purposes of making a fire risk assessment if they have sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to enable them properly to assist in undertaking the preventative and protective measures. To help those responsible for ensuring that the risk from fire in their premises has been accurately assessed, the fire sector has produced guidance on how to choose a competent fire risk assessor. This is available on www.cfoa.org.uk/19532. In addition, fire safety risk assessment guidance produced by the Government and by the Local Government Association also provides advice and guidance to those responsible for fire safety compliance to help them to accurately assess the risks from fire and implement adequate and appropriate fire safety measures. This is available here: https://www.gov.uk/workplace-fire-safety-your-responsibilities/fire-risk-assessments. The Government will consider the ongoing suitability of the Fire Safety Order as part of the wider work underway following the horrific fire at Grenfell Tower.



Regulatory Reform Order Guidance 
(PDF Document, 230.86 KB)

*No heading*

lord macpherson of earl's court: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 20 February (HL5112), whether they intend to update the table on housing sales and stamp duty land tax to include data for 2016–17.

lord bates: Statistics on residential property transactions and Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) receipts, based on financial year, are published annually in HMRC's 'Annual Stamp Tax Statistics' publication, on gov.uk. Statistics for 2016-17 are due to be published in September 2017.

*No heading*

baroness jolly: Her Majesty's Government what is the HMRC budget for national minimum wage enforcement for 2017–18; how many staff are expected to be employed by HMRC in national minimum wage enforcement in 2017–18; and how many staff were employed in each of the last five years.

lord bates: The Government has more than trebled annual funding of minimum wage enforcement since 2014, providing a total budget of £25.3m in 2017-18. As at 1 April 2017, there were 399 staff in post in HMRC’s NMW teams. HMRC are 90% staffed against current recruitment plans for the year. For the previous 5 years NMW staff figures I refer the honourable member to UIN 58599 and UIN 16938.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Department for Exiting the European Union

*No heading*

baroness quin: Her Majesty's Government whattheir estimate of the number of UK nationals working in EU agencies that arelocated in (1) the UK, and (2) elsewhere in the EU.

baroness anelay of st johns: The UK Government does not hold this information. Information relating to the breakdown by nationality of staff of the EU agencies is held by the EU agencies themselves. This information is sometimes published on their websites.

*No heading*

viscount waverley: Her Majesty's Government whether those EU citizens who have lived in the UK for more than five years, and who have therefore already qualified for permanent residency status, will be treated in the same manner as EU citizens who have not so qualified, for the purpose of applying for any new citizenship status following Brexit.

baroness anelay of st johns: For the purpose of applying for citizenship, individuals will be required to meet the current eligibility criteria for naturalisation. These include a period of continuous residence, being of good character, and having sufficient knowledge of English and of life in the UK. A person who is married to or the civil partner of a British citizen can apply for naturalisation once settled; others must wait until they have been settled for 12 months.Those who are already permanently resident in the UK will be able to apply for citizenship if they meet the statutory requirements.Those who are not permanently resident must first apply for settled status. To do so, they must have been resident in the UK before a specified date and have completed a period of five years’ continuous residence. Once they are settled they can apply for British citizenship, if they meet the other statutory requirements.

*No heading*

lord taylor of warwick: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to extend their offer regarding continued residence after Brexit to EU citizens in the UK.

baroness anelay of st johns: EU citizens who arrived and became resident before the specified date - which will be no earlier than 29 March 2017 and no later than the date of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU - but who have not accrued five years’ continuous residence at the time of the UK’s exit will be able to apply for temporary status in order to remain resident in the UK until they have accumulated five years, after which they will be eligible to apply for settled status.EU citizens who arrived after the specified date will be allowed to remain in the UK for at least a temporary period and may become eligible to settle permanently, depending on their circumstances – but this will depend on the new immigration system.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

*No heading*

baroness armstrong of hill top: Her Majesty's Government what proposals they have to increase charitable giving from higher-rate tax payers.

lord ashton of hyde: The UK is the most generous place in Europe and one of the most generous places in the world. In 2016 alone, the British public donated around £10 billion to charitable causes and 73% of people gave money in an average month. This is a level of generosity that deserves to be celebrated. To help build a compassionate country that works for everyone, this Government will make it as easy and compelling as possible for people to give. The Government currently offers several schemes to incentivise higher-rate taxpayers to give. Tax relief is offered when donations are made through Gift Aid, when donating land, property, shares, or if gifts are left to charity in a will. Relief is also available for any individual or company who donates cultural artefacts through the Cultural Gift Scheme. At the Giving Roundtables held in 2016, the Government heard about opportunities to increase charitable giving by higher-rate taxpayers. Further announcements about those opportunities will follow.The £4m Libraries: Opportunities for Everyone innovation fund, managed by Arts Council England on behalf of DCMS, was set up to pilot library service projects that provide benefit disadvantaged people and places in England. These pilots will be tracked and evaluated, with a view to encouraging wider adoption and investment in those which prove most successful.

*No heading*

baroness armstrong of hill top: Her Majesty's Government how they intend to monitor the effectiveness ofgrants given to those charities that have a turnover of less than £250,000 per year.

lord ashton of hyde: All grants managed by the Office for Civil Society are consistent with the Government Grants Minimum Standards, which provide guidance on effective grant monitoring. All payments to grantees are subject to the satisfactory and timely completion of monitoring reports that set out the use of funds to date as well as progress against pre-agreed milestones, outputs and outcomes.

*No heading*

baroness hayter of kentish town: Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to convert Regulation (EU) 531/2012 regarding roaming on mobile networks into UK law; and, if so, what plans they have to agree a bilateral agreement with EU members states to ensure that UK customers are not charged high roaming charges when within the EU.

lord ashton of hyde: As part of our exit negotiations, we will be seeking the best possible deal which delivers for British consumers and business. The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill will end the authority of EU law. The elements of the Roaming Regulation (EU) 531/2012 and its associated amending regulations that will need to be converted to UK law will depend on details of the deal that is agreed on EU roaming.With regard to possible bilateral agreements, we will examine precedents from other agreements, however we will not seek to replicate an existing model unless it delivers the right deal for the UK.